BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1645
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently in Texas there is no single access point for information regarding housing resources. Information is maintained by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Texas Real Estate Commission, and other agencies. For developers, the process for increasing access to affordable housing is complex. Moreover, for consumers looking to access housing resources, the myriad of courses of various pieces of information is even more complex. Streamlining the information process will help both developers and consumers better access the necessary information regarding housing in Texas.
As proposed, S.B. 1645 directs the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to work with the Department of Information Resources and other state agencies with housing resources to create an Internet portal that serves as a single point of access for state and federal resources regarding housing needs.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 2306, Government Code, by adding Section 2306.009, as follows:
Sec. 2306.009. HOUSING RESOURCE INTERNET PORTAL. (a) Defines "portal."
(b) Requires the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (department), with assistance from certain other government entities and interested persons in the private sector, to establish and maintain a housing resources Internet portal for use by developers, community leaders and residents, and the general public.
(c) Requires the portal to serve as a single point of access to state and federal resources regarding housing and to provide appropriate links to information and experts available through the Internet.
(d) Provides that the department has responsibility for general administration and oversight of the portal and for approving the content of all information made available through the portal.
(e) Requires the Department of Information Resources to host the portal through the project known as TexasOnline, organize the portal in a manner that simplifies portal use and administration, provide any necessary technical advice to the department, including advice relating to equipment required in connection with the portal, provide a method for maintaining the information made available through the portal, and cooperate with the department in linking the department's Internet site to the portal.
(f) Authorizes the Department of Information Resources to assist the department with technical advice regarding contracting with vendors for any services in connection with the portal.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2005.